NAIROBI, Kenya — Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has dismissed claims that a rival Sudanese government was formed in Nairobi, following a controversial agreement signed in February between Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied groups.
Speaking at a quarterly diplomatic briefing on Tuesday, Mudavadi sought to quell growing international concerns, insisting that the meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) was strictly aimed at fostering dialogue—not declaring a breakaway state.
“Let me be clear: No government of Sudan was declared or formed in Kenya. Any suggestion otherwise is misinformation,” Mudavadi asserted. “We have reviewed the documents, and there is no such declaration.”
The high-stakes gathering, which brought together rebel factions, political parties, and civil society groups, resulted in the creation of the Sudan Founding Alliance—a coalition pushing for a secular, decentralized state and a reformed military.
But the move drew sharp criticism from Sudan’s embattled central government, prompting Khartoum to recall its ambassador in protest.
The backlash extended beyond Sudan, with the U.S., Egypt, and Saudi Arabia raising alarms over the perceived threat to Sudan’s unity.
Mudavadi, however, defended Kenya’s role, emphasizing that Nairobi remains neutral in mediating Sudan’s brutal civil war.
“Self-determination is not the same as secession,” he cautioned, warning against framing the talks as a push for partition. “Kenya supports a peaceful, united Sudan.”
Yet the optics of hosting the RSF—a force accused of widespread atrocities—have strained Kenya’s diplomatic standing.
Analysts suggest Nairobi is walking a tightrope, balancing its peacemaking ambitions with the risk of alienating key allies.
The signed agreement outlines sweeping reforms, including a new national army free from political interference and a state built on “freedom, equality, and justice.”
But with Sudan’s warring factions still locked in conflict, the pact’s practical impact remains uncertain.
